Majority of Viewers Say Sasha Grey's PETA Video is Offensive

PETA Sasha Grey Video

Viewers split on whether PETA video was effective

Flemington, NJ, January 25, 2010 – A new media study among 301 viewers of a new video for the animal rights group, PETA, revealed that the majority of viewers (69%) indicated that video was somewhat offensive or inappropriate.

The study was conducted during January 22-25 by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website, to obtain viewers’ perceptions of a new PETA Video in which adult entertainment star Sasha Grey supports the group’s new ad campaign, “Too much sex can be a bad thing.” To view detailed results go to: www.mediacurves.com.

Viewers were split on the effectiveness of the video, with 52% indicating that the video was not at all effective, 37% indicating that it was somewhat effective, and 11% indicating that the video was extremely effective. Viewers’ perception of the PETA organization declined after viewing the video with 9% rating PETA as “extremely unfavorable” before the video and 17% rating PETA as “extremely unfavorable” after the video.

“Our automated response curves revealed that interest levels among male and female viewers were similar in the beginning of the video, but women’s interest levels began to quickly decline once scantily clad images of Sasha Grey were shown,” commented Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research.

Among the findings:

Did you find this PETA advertisement to be offensive or inappropriate?

Total

Yes

38%

Somewhat

31%

No

32%

Overall, how effective do you think this PETA advertisement was?

Total

Extremely effective

11%

Somewhat effective

37%

Not at all effective

52%

Please indicate your perception of the PETA organization.

Before Video

After Video

Extremely favorable

13%

10%

Favorable

46%

41%

Unfavorable

32%

32%

Extremely unfavorable

9%

17%

While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of interest by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net). You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820

HCD Research is a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ. The company's services include traditional and web-based research. For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393. MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements.

I think having people take off thier clothes to try and make a point is stupid. You lose the essence of the message, because more people pay attention to a woman taking off her clothes than they do about treating thier pets.

Showing "a sex kitten" to promote awareness of PETA is NOT giving me any desire to be assoicated with that organization. Such a choice of viewing material was quite inappropriate and totally unrelated to the topic.

A paid advertisement about cruelty to animals should spend their funds wisely: they should show more about what to do about the sad and inhumane situation of the animals and not a young girl posing. I learned nothing from her and I did not believe her. The entire ad was all about her for crying out loud.

Peta sometimes are just as bad as some offenders,not everyone gets it.Being kind to a pet is something that no one should have to tell you.Treat anything else the way you want to be treated,unfortunatly some people don't like themselves.

I'm not a prude, but I think this is a stupid campaign. Guys won't be listening to anything she says because they'll be too distracted by her body, and women will probably be resentful or offended by her being a porn star, and not pay attention either. They are trying to get animals neutered, but making people think about sex. Doesn't make sense to use a spokeswoman like her.

I think this was a terrible message. I almost borders on repulsive. Whoever thought putting a porn star on a PETA commercial was an idiot. You do not think of human sex and animal sex as anything close to one another until you see this commercial and it has a sick, twisted beastiality feel to it that is very disturbing.It definitely does not enhance a message to spay or neuter your pets.

this advertisement was very great. I am a pet owner and I love my pets..they are like family to me and it makes m very happy knowing and seeing and feeling that I am carring for my pet the way that I do. if my home was bigger would probably have my own lil zoo o different animals running around here...loved the ad.

2011 ? 11 ? 17 ? - ?? 4:15 4F Indonesia Mozilla Firefox 3.5.3 Windows XPYou can clatriney see your enthusiasm within the paintings you write. The sector hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren't afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.

AS A MOYER I FEEL THIS AD SHOULDNOT BE SEEN
ON THE TV. WE HAVE IMPRESSIONABLE CHILDREN
AND SHE COULDHAVE DELETED THE NUDITY AND THEN "TOLD THE STORY". THIS IS REALLY
OFFENSIVE AND I HOPE THAT OTHERS WILL
FEEL THAT WAY TOO. WE HAVE SEEN SO MANY
GOOD ONES ON CABLE SHOWING THE NEED
FOR TAKING THE CRUELTY OUTOF ANIMALS,
THEY DON'T DESERVE THAT TREATMENT

You have GOT to be kidding right?Think about this igllaolcy. Based on these complaints NO ONE WHO HAS HAD CONSENSUAL SEX AT ALL CAN READ TO CHILDREN. Is it the fact that we KNOW they had sex or that they do it for money on film? I think that nearly everyone has experimented with filming private sex acts. What about mainstream film actors who often perform extremely realistic sex acts in front of the camera? Should we not allow Nicole Kidman to speak to children because of Eyes Wide Shut ? (her ex also in that movie, shouldn't read to children for other much more important reasons.) What about fashion models who walk around half naked on a stage in front of people? Should we prevent former exotic dancers who may have paid for their education in that profession to not become teachers?How far does it go? The next step would be to require everyone who has had sex in front of a camera to wear some kind of badge or have some kind of tag on their ID so we can make sure they don't talk to or interact with children. Maybe a special tattoo in an obvious place. We will have to put some kind of image recognition software on all video and phone cameras so the authorities can be alerted if anyone films themselves performing sex acts.

I believe in spaying and neutering pets, I believe in ending animal cruelty. What I don't believe is PETA finding the most disgusting ways to bring attention to themselves regardless of who else they effect and when.
I find it disgusting and deceptive of PETA to use a media that is degrading to women THINKING it will bring interest to ending degradation of animals when all it does is bring an interest to what men have in their pants that could care less about animals and won't be paying attention to the message anyway.
What in the world does a naked woman have to do with cruelty to animals? She could have done that whole commercial without degrading herself like that.
Also PETA airing commercials during times when children watch TV and show animals being cruelly treated that disturbs the children who BTW ARE NOT VOTERS AND WON'T BE FOR MANY YEARS so that excuse just doesn't fly.
PETA has gone from low to lower if they plan on using this type of advertising to bring attention to themselves and it is this type of approach that they use that will cause me NOT TO SUPPORT any of their causes.
Simply put - PETA needs to be neutered.

I love animals. I support groups who want to help animals. But what does a naked porn star have to do with spaying and nuetering animals????? This campaign represents the problems with PETA. They want people to respect them but they often use gorilla tactics and sleazy advertising. If they would grow up and be responsible and respectible they would get more support from middle America.

In regards to this survey, I consider myself a passionate animal welfare advocate (not animal rights advocate). I support HSUS, ASPCA, Alley Cat Allies, North Shore Animal League, Best Friends Animal Society, and so on.
PETA is a very poor representation of an organization that is neither animal rights or animal advocates. I am very familiar with PETA's standing on animal issues for years, and it is more of an organization that stands on hypocrisy and contradiction, This ad that I have seen is just a very typical of PETA using sex to make people notice not the "animals or the problems" but the naked and beautiful celebrity. This ad doesn't make you "listen"; it doesn't make you "aware", and it doesn't "educate" you of the problem or the crisis. This ad doesn't make me feel compassion and empathy. This ad makes me feel confused and angry! This ad is nothing but an advertisement of becoming a vegan so you can have that body. I do not want to see it advertised on tv. It is pornography!

Although Sasha Gray is very attractive I don't think it would be wise to use a porn star to make a statement. As a male I was interested in the commercial, but all hopes of the commercial convincing me of anything were gone when i realized it was Sasha Gray who was making the statement.

With some editing, this commercial would be a wonderful television spot. I would suggest not showing her bare bottom, and making the entire photo shoot seem less erotic. (I am assuming the shoot was for a print campaign.) I think it would be a better ad if you didn't include her identifying herself as a porn star. I didn't know who she was and I liked it better when I thought she was merely a nice, sincere young woman who shared my concern for animals and the issue of spaying & neutering. Anyone who has a positive impression of the porn industry will probably recognize her and those who have a negative impression probably won't; if you leave it unsaid you can appeal to both audiences.